Just what does the potential change in U.S. Legislative Districts mean for Panola County is a question whose answer will be unraveled in the next couple of legislative election cycles with no one knowing exactly how new lines switching Panola, Grenada and Yalobusha Counties from U.S. Legislative District
One to the Second District will play out.

On the pro side is that local leaders in Panola have established a great relationship with current District One Congressman Alan Nunnelee who will no longer represent the district. Now is the opportunity to maintain that relationship while building a similar relationship with Congressman Thompson.

Changes are coming:
—The new lines squarely identify Panola County with Delta Counties. Although a portion of Panola is considered in the Mississippi Delta, the economic engine that drives the county is located in the more hilly section which culturally identifies with the more robust economy of hill counties to the east;

—Appalachian Region Commission funding, federal funds that are available for the  region may not be obtained as easily through new channels in the change;

—Developers of industry often look at the power supplier. Regions in the Delta are served by power distributors other than Tennessee Valley Authority which has assisted our state and local governments in their region with luring major industry;

—Expect little change in representation. Congressman Bennie Thompson is an intelligent, seasoned politician and the new district is designed for a Democrat. It would take a major political catastrophe to unseat him.

— It is a positive that Congressman Thompson has represented a portion of Panola in the past:

—On February 12, 1994 after Thompson’s entire district was devastated by the infamous Ice Storm ‘94 the night before, Congressman Thompson showed up at the Emergency Management Headquarters and asked Panola EM director Son Hudson, who had been on the job for only a week, what he needed;

—He has strong ties to former supporters here, mostly with residents in the portion of the county that he formerly represented. Panola County was probably best represented in the past when Thompson’s district included the western and northern precincts of Panola and District One included the remainder in the south and east;

—Thompson’s Chief of Staff is Lanier Avant, formerly of Panola County, and son of District Two Supervisor Vernice Avant and the late Robert Avant;

—Thompson is Mississippi’s top Democrat. Although Republicans almost ran the table on state-wide elected officials, Thompson has remained at his position working his way up the seniority ladder with only party affiliation between him and chairmanships. Under the Democrat led House, he served as chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee;

With any successful association, it’s all about relationships. The district’s representative will want our support and we will want his.

Local government officials, planners and developers have some getting acquainted to do. It’s never too early to start.